Hydrangea attracts attention with its unusual flowers, which can be admired throughout the summer. Hydrangea Magic Moonlight belongs to panicled and affects the density of the brush and the unusual color of the petals. No wonder its name translates as Magic moonlight.
Appearance
This shrub grows up to 2 meters in height and 1.5 meters in width. The shoots are straight, densely covered with foliage. The leaves are oval, with a carved edge. Veins of leaves are clearly visible. The color is deep green.
Magic Moonlight
Flowers are formed on the branches of the current year. At the beginning of flowering, the petals have a greenish color with a cream tint. As they bloom, they whiten, in the fall they again acquire a greenish tint. If the bush grows in the shade, then the white color of the flowers does not appear.
In spring, hydrangea of this species forms round inflorescences. Gradually they stretch out and turn into cones up to 30 cm long. The brushes are collected from fertile and sterile flowers, densely located on the inflorescence.
Transplant after purchase in open ground
After buying this beauty, do not rush to plant her in the ground. Most likely, she grew up indoors and she needs to get used to the open area. For this, the plant should be taken out to fresh air for a short time within 3-4 days. On the first day, it can be 30 minutes.
Sapling from the store
Every day, the time of his stay on the street needs to be increased, meanwhile, prepare the soil for planting a bush.
What you need for landing
Before planting a bush, you need to prepare a landing pit. It is dug out according to the size of the seedling. For a medium-sized seedling, it is necessary to prepare a hole with sides 70x70 cm and a depth of at least 50 cm. Soil mixed with fertilizers is laid on the bottom of the hole. Better for planting hydrangeas are suitable:
- humus;
- superphosphate;
- potassium sulfate.
Note! When planting several bushes, the distance between them should not be less than 2 meters.
Optimal place
It is better to plant a bush in a sunny area, protected from strong winds. Better hydrangea Magical Moonlight grows on loams with acidic soil reaction.
When choosing a place for landing, you need to take into account the speed of snow melting on it. If, under the influence of the spring sun, the snow quickly disappears, and sap flow begins in the hydrangea branches, then there is a high probability of the death of the plant.
Step-by-step landing process
Hydrangea planting moonlight carried out as follows:
- Prepare a landing pit.
- Half fill it with prepared soil.
- Form a small mound from the soil and water it.
- Inspect the seedling and remove dried branches and roots.
- Carefully place it in the hole and spread the roots on the ground.
- Fill the roots with prepared soil with fertilizers.
- Water the plant abundantly.
Important! The root neck of the shrub should be at ground level.
Breeding
Despite the fact that panicle hydrangea moonlight after flowering forms capsules with seeds, when propagating, cuttings and cuttings are preferred.
Cuttings
After autumn pruning, strong branches are taken for further propagation. Of these, cuttings with 3 pairs of kidneys are cut. Prepared cuttings are dipped in a solution of a growth stimulant. At this time, you need to prepare the ground.
Peat and sand are used for germination of cuttings. Peat in 2/3 of the capacity is poured into the pot with the first layer, then sand. Prepared planting material is planted in a layer of sand and watered abundantly. For better germination of the roots, a greenhouse is made from the film.
Important! The soil in the pot must be constantly moist.
Reinforced seedlings are transferred to the open ground only after a year.
Seed cultivation
Hydrangea seeds are small and have poor germination. If you manage to collect and germinate the seeds, then the seedling will bloom only after 4 years. It is much more productive to use the vegetative method when propagating this species.
If a gardener decided to grow Moonlight from a seed, then the following should be remembered:
- For planting seeds you need a deep box.
- The soil should consist of peat, sand, forest soil and humus.
- Seeds are sown in the ground without the formation of grooves.
- After sowing the seed material, it must be sprinkled with earth.
- After planting, the land is watered well.
- The box is covered with glass or film.
Important! The greenhouse is removed only after the formation of seedlings.
After the seedlings are fully formed, the strongest seedlings need to be transplanted into separate pots. In the ground, they land in the spring.
Care
Like the other hydrangea cultivar, Moonlight care is easy. It consists in abundant watering, top dressing and pruning.
When caring for a plant in the first year, you should not allow flowering. Due to pruning buds you can get a strong healthy bush. Next year, flowering will be more intense.
Watering mode
Hydrangea Magical moonlight loves moist soil. In the first year after planting, it should be watered every day. In subsequent years, watering can be reduced.
Important! Drying of an earthen coma near the roots of the bush should not be allowed. This can lead to the death of the plant.
In hot summers, at least 30 liters of water should be poured under the bush. Watering is carried out under the root. After abundant watering, it is advisable to mulch the soil to prevent the rapid evaporation of moisture.
You can mulch the following materials:
- peat;
- manure;
- straw;
- sawdust.
Groundcover plants are planted around the shrub to retain moisture in the near-stem circle. It can be verbena, saxifrage or bryozoan.
Hydrangea cuttings
Top dressing
Top dressing should be carried out during the entire vegetative period. During this time, you need to carry out 3 dressings:
- In the spring before the swelling of the kidneys - urea or other fertilizers containing nitrogen are introduced.
- In summer, during the beginning of flowering, superphosphate, urea, potassium sulfate.
- In the fall, before preparing for winter, fertilizers with phosphorus and potassium.
In the summer, manure and mineral complexes are also used as fertilizer. Before making manure should be insisted in water. The infusion is made at the rate of 1 kg of manure per 10 liters of water. The working solution is made in a ratio of 1 to 2 and the plant is watered with it.
Important! Fertilizers are best applied to the groove made around the hole. After placing fertilizers in it, the groove is closed.
During flowering
Before flowering, it is necessary to inspect the bush and remove broken and diseased branches. During flowering, it is important to provide the plant with moisture and nutrients. For such a simple care, it will thank lush flowering.
Do not be afraid to prune hydrangea in the spring. This species lays flower buds on the shoots of this species. After pruning in the spring before sap flow, you can get a lush bush dotted with buds.
During rest
Before the winter period, hydrangea must be fed.
Hydrangea in bloom
They do this in late September - early October. During winter dormancy, you need to ensure that the bush is covered with snow.
Winter preparations
Panicled hydrangea Moonlight is frost-resistant. It withstands frosts down to -30 ° C. Therefore, shelter for the winter is required only to plants in the strip with severe winters. In areas where winters are milder, only seedlings of the first year need to be covered. To protect them from frost, their roots are covered with straw or peat. The protective layer should be 20 cm thick. From above, the shrub is covered with agrofibre.
If you plant Hydrangea Magic Moonlight in a garden or in a summer cottage, you can create an amazing landscape. Whether it is a solitary composition or a hedge, the site will attract the eyes of passers-by. The delicate aroma of flowers will fill not only the air, but also the soul of the owners and their guests.
